"Simple."
There was a hint of temptation and gentleness in Ewakuai's tone. "Just place your hand on the statue."
"Bahafus may bestow a trial upon you. If you pass, you'll obtain the inheritance of this ancient wizard chieftain."
Then he would give it a try.
Dago did not feel much resistance in his heart.
In the world of wizards, power was absolute truth.
No one could refuse the gift of a legendary dragon soul, especially when that dragon had been a powerful wizard who had explored the profound mysteries of the universe during its lifetime.
Following Ewakuai's instructions, he slowed his steps and gradually approached the enormous dragon statue that was suffocatingly imposing.
Dago extended his hand and gently pressed his palm against the statue's icy base.
It was merely one rough toe of the dragon sculpture.
"Empty your mind." Ewakuai's voice drifted faintly from behind him.
Dago closed his eyes. Deep within his sea of consciousness, ten polyhedral Soul Crystals began to flicker faintly.
Pure spiritual power, like invisible feelers, extended forward bit by bit, cautiously seeping into the ancient stone statue before him.
Cold.
Nothingness.
Boundless darkness.
At first, his perception could not detect the slightest unusual fluctuation, as though his spiritual power had fallen into a deathly silent abyss.
But Dago was patient. Ewakuai had reminded him that patience was what this process required most.
The remnants of those ancient wizard chieftains' souls had almost all fallen into the deepest slumber in order to resist the erosion of time.
Before the will of a great existence awakened, all he could do as a humble living being was maintain absolute reverence.
Time passed second by second.
Gradually, amid the pure darkness, a scarlet speck of light appeared at the edge of Dago's "field of vision."
The speck expanded